Heavenfall City

Chapter 43: Heavenfall City

The Great Qian Immortal Kingdom occupied two of the Nine Prefectures of the realm—Qian Prefecture and Shu Province—and was one of the strongest immortal cultivation powers under heaven.

Shu Province was divided into thirteen commanderies.

Ancient Shu, Gaoyuan, Taihe, Xinghai, Ancient Creek, Three Sources, Nanyang, Luofeng, Taibai, Jiang Prefecture, Huaibei, Andu, and Lingfu.

Of these, Ancient Shu was the center of Shu Province.

South of Ancient Shu, the Mystic Pill Sect occupied the Mystic Pill Mountain Range. The mountain range stretched across the three commanderies of Nanyang, Luofeng, and Taibai. Relying on the Mystic Pill Mountain Range, the Mystic Pill Sect's core forces were mainly located in Nanyang, with some stationed in Luofeng and Taibai.

Luofeng Commandery lay to the east, and within it was the Golden Core sect, the Primordial Beast Sect.

Taibai Commandery lay to the west, and within it was the Golden Core sect, the Blood God Sect.

Taibai Commandery covered a vast territory and contained numerous cities.

Heavenfall City was one of them.

It lay at the border between the Blood God Sect's and Mystic Pill Sect's spheres of influence. It was not particularly large, but it had its importance: outside Heavenfall City lay a mine vein that produced a mineral called Blood Flame Crystal.

This mineral was mainly used in artifact refinement. In particular, high-quality pill furnaces all required Blood Flame Crystal to be added.

In short, it was an expensive, strategic resource.

The Mystic Pill Sect fought for every blade of grass here.

Outside Heavenfall City.

A massive Skyflying Warship suddenly appeared, shifting from a streak of light flying at extreme speed to a complete stop in but an instant.

Then.

More than a hundred people were released from the warship and landed steadily on the ground.

The warship gave a slight tremor and started up again. Soundlessly, it turned into a streak of light and vanished into the distance in an instant.

Among the hundred-odd people released from the warship, Han Yi was prominently among them.

"Alright. Today, we will be stationed in Heavenfall City. Everyone, divide into the ten teams assigned earlier and await orders."

"Move!!"

The leader of the hundred-odd people stationed in Heavenfall City was an early Foundation Establishment elder from the inner sect. His surname was Gu, and his name was Gu Yu.

Of the ten squads he had assigned, the captains of the first three were at Qi Refining Layer 9, while the captains of the other squads all possessed Qi Refining Layer 8 cultivation.

Their strength seemed rather ordinary, especially if they were to contend with the Blood God Sect.

But it had to be understood that these hundred-odd people had been sent to Heavenfall City as reinforcements.

At the Blood Flame Mine Vein outside Heavenfall City, stronger forces were stationed. They were the true main force.

Moreover, the Mystic Pill Sect had drawn its battle lines wide this time, preparing to fully resist the Blood God Sect's invasion.

Within Taibai Commandery, more than a dozen mines and mining sites belonging to the Mystic Pill Sect had all received large contingents of cultivators.

Beyond that, reserve forces had been dispatched to the cities nearest the mines as combat reinforcements and, at the same time, to prevent the Blood God Sect from cutting off the Mystic Pill Sect's supply and retreat routes.

As Han Yi followed the group into Heavenfall City, worry filled his heart. This truly looked like the prelude to an all-out war.

But he was also thankful that he had not been assigned to a mining site. That was where battle and slaughter were most likely to erupt.

Strictly speaking, Heavenfall City counted as the second line rather than the frontline battlefield. It was a blessing amid misfortune.

What Han Yi found rather strange was this.

Their entry into Heavenfall City went extraordinarily smoothly. No cultivators from the Great Qian authorities appeared to interfere, nor did any other accidents occur. Han Yi, whose heart had been tense, quietly let out a breath.

Yet within Heavenfall City, an air that made one suffocate surged beneath the surface. Occasionally, cultivators would poke their heads out from the shops lining both sides of the streets, their faces equally grave. As for the mortals, they had long since hidden away.

Under Great Qian law, for cultivators to slaughter mortals was a capital crime. But if mortals offended cultivators and were killed, then they had only themselves to blame for courting death.

With a great battle between the Blood God Sect and the Mystic Pill Sect on the verge of breaking out, and the Great Qian authorities' stance unclear, mortals naturally hid as far away as they could.

During this time, many mortals had already migrated elsewhere from the cities along this Taibai Commandery battle line, all to avoid this cultivator-caused turmoil.

Heavenfall City, Mystic Pill Sect temporary encampment.

Before Han Yi had even settled in, he was summoned into a room to discuss matters. The one convening the meeting was the captain of his squad.

The captain was named Lu Su, an Inner Peak disciple in his early thirties and a Qi Refining Layer 8 cultivator.

Aside from Lu Su, this squad also had four cultivators at Qi Refining Layer 7 and five at Qi Refining Layer 6.

As a Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivator, Han Yi was entirely inconspicuous among them.

"Senior Brother Lu, can our mission be made more specific?" one of the Qi Refining Layer 7 senior brothers asked.

Lu Su shook his head. "No. Uncle Gu said that we only need to remain where we are, await orders, and obey deployment."

"But isn't this too agonizing? Why don't we take the initiative and strike, instead of passively defending?"

Another Layer 7 senior brother, who appeared somewhat hot-tempered, spoke in a muffled voice, a trace of dissatisfaction in his tone.

"I do not know that either. The sect has its own considerations. We only need to obey orders. We absolutely must not act on our own and ruin the sect's major affairs."

Lu Su's tone rose slightly, turning stern.

He extended a hand and pressed it down, signaling for everyone to remain calm.

"For this period, everyone must remain on high alert. Do not go out, do not enter deep cultivation, and keep watch on the movements outside at all times. Be vigilant against external enemies."

"If there are any problems, raise them at any time."

"Let me make the ugly words clear first: if anyone violates the rules, they will all be dealt with according to sect law. There will be no leniency whatsoever. Remember that, remember it well."

"Alright, now let's introduce ourselves. There are seven Inner Peak disciples here and three Outer Peak disciples. Since we are fellow disciples and teammates during this special time, we must understand one another so that, should enemy activity arise, we can coordinate properly."

Although this ten-man squad had five cultivators at Qi Refining Layer 6, two of them had obtained Inner Peak slots and resided on the Inner Peak. They could be counted as Inner Peak disciples rather than inner sect disciples.

In the Mystic Pill Sect, only after advancing to Qi Refining Layer 7 could one be considered an inner sect disciple.

Inner sect disciples and Inner Peak disciples differed by only one word, yet they were not quite the same.

"I'll go first. I am Lu Su, an inner sect disciple of White Tiger Peak, Qi Refining Layer 8. I specialize in earth-element defensive spells and am not skilled at offensive spells. I only know the Earth Dragon Technique, which can barely count as having some offensive ability."

As Lu Su spoke to the end, he felt that something was amiss, as though it might dampen morale. His tone shifted as he added.

"However, I took part in the battle at the Demon Cave four years ago, so I have fairly extensive experience. I have also cultivated the Earth Shield Technique, which can defend against ordinary attacks from Qi Refining Layer 8 cultivators. In terms of defense, I am considered formidable."

After Lu Su finished, he looked toward a Qi Refining Layer 7 junior brother beside him.

"My name is Cui Xingchen. I am an Inner Peak disciple of Sword Pill Peak, Qi Refining Layer 7. I specialize in Alchemy Technique. Uh, aside from Alchemy Technique, I have also cultivated Sword Pill Peak's inheritance—the Pill Sword Technique, using pills as swords."

The moment Cui Xingchen said this, a faint smile appeared on Lu Su's face.

"Junior Brother Cui's Pill Sword Technique has already reached minor mastery. Even if I faced him, I would not gain any advantage. His combat strength should be the highest in our squad."

"If we face enemies, I suggest we form an enemy-killing formation with Junior Brother Cui at its core. We will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

At this, a flash of pride passed through Cui Xingchen's eyes.

Sword Pill Peak was one of the nine Inner Peaks. In terms of combat strength alone, its inheritance could rank among the top three of the Inner Peaks.

It was only because the Pill Sword Technique, this special Sword Control Technique, was exceedingly difficult to cultivate, and few inner sect disciples could master it, that Sword Pill Peak ranked lower overall.

Han Yi, who was entirely unremarkable among the group, glanced at Cui Xingchen, a trace of envy flickering in his eyes.

The Pill Sword Technique—it was one of the inner sect inheritances, and only those at Qi Refining Layer 7 could switch to cultivating it.

The Pill Sword Technique was a type of Sword Control Technique, one especially suited for alchemists.

Han Yi's original plan had been to apply for this inheritance after entering the Inner Peak and advancing to Qi Refining Layer 7, switching from the Fire Pill Profound Art to the Pill Sword Technique.

I wonder, between a Pill Sword Technique at minor mastery and my Sword Control Technique, which is stronger? This thought suddenly flashed through Han Yi's mind.

(End of Chapter)